| Weaning your baby chat
The author of various books on nutrition, including The Children's Food Bible, Judith Wills answers iVillagers' questions about weaning Confused by guidelines
Confused by guidelines
I'm planning to breastfeed, probably for about eight months, but am unclear as to when to start weaning. Is the right time based on the baby's weight or is it just age? I can't imagine trying to fill up a hungry five-month-old baby with milk alone if it needs something more. We also have allergies in the family - all three of my children have eczema, and I am allergic to acidic fruit, such as oranges, strawberries, kiwi etc. Are there any foods I should avoid when weaning? judith_wills
However, weaning before the age of four months has several negatives - baby's digestive system and kidneys may not be able to cope readily with solids; early weaning may encourage allergies especially if there is a family history of allergies (an important point in your case) and it may encourage obesity and other possible health problems later in life. Having said that, late weaning can also bring problems so there is no great gain to be had in leaving weaning much after six months - indeed, breast milk alone is unlikely to provide all the nutrients needed after that time. So while you continue to breastfeed, begin introducing solids to your baby. Regarding allergies - avoid those which you know you are allergic to while breastfeeding and follow the guidelines for infant feeding, avoiding known high-risk foods which may cause allergies, such as cow's milk, egg, soya and fish. No more carrots please!
Can you give me some ideas, hopefully things that I can cook for everyone, adding the seasoning later. I'm keen to add as much lumpy food as possible, although the books I've read seem to imply that pasta is the only option here. Is that true? judith_wills
You can try mixing in natural yogurt and you can feed well cooked lentils and other pulses such as butter beans and cannellini beans, lean poultry and red meat. You can try small quantities of hard cheese such as Cheddar, hard-boiled egg yolk. Fruits such as avocado, melon and peeled peaches may be thoroughly enjoyed. For menu suggestions, there isn't really room or time here for me to give you a lot - but if you have a library nearby, you'll find many good books on feeding your infant there - or there are many tips here on the web. By the time they are nine months they will enjoy many of the meals you cook for your family - just blend to a suitable consistency and never add salt to a meal your infant is going to eat. Hope that helps! Only wants milk?
judith_wills You don't say how old he is, but this is quite a common problem in the early stages of weaning. Try giving him a drink before you feed him. He is used to having milk as a source of food, so if he is full up then he won't be so interested in the milk as a drink. When you first start offering water it is a 'new' thing and so some babies will baulk at it at first but DO keep trying. Again, offer frequently throughout the day and before a meal or snack rather than after. I promise you that the problem will get sorted but whatever you do don't start offering sweet drinks in desperation. He only needs milk and water - even juice isn't necessary. Not eating anything
To begin with everything was fine and she ate everything happily. Then she would eat a couple of mouthfuls before refusing to eat any more. Now she is refusing to eat anything. I have spoken to the health visitor who thinks she might be teething and has now advised me to stop the solids for a week and just breastfeed, then start from scratch again. Any suggestions? judith_wills
Ready Brek and Weetabix
judith_wills I think they are fine as part of a balanced diet as long as the baby doesn't have a gluten intolerance (found in wheat, oats, barley and rye). I'd still give baby rice as a major part of the breakfast programme for now. Making your own porridge from oats is a good idea - porridge is very low in salt which is ideal. Nuts?
They do, however, have seeds such as sesame seeds and pulses such as chickpeas (ie in hummus) and I've been told by various (non-professional) people that I'm wasting my time by avoiding the nuts, as they can be sensitised by the seeds and pulses. Is this true? Am I avoiding the correct things, or have the last three years been a big mistake? I'm also breastfeeding my younger son and I too avoid all the same nuts as him, just to be on the safe side. judith_wills
I think on balance as you have a family allergy history it is much the best idea to continue avoiding nuts along with your children under five. You're not wasting your time though. If your family are okay with the diet they've been eating, then they are not allergic to these seeds or pulses. Yes, it may be that they could eat peanut butter, etc. as well (no whole nuts under five) but if you are all managing fine without then why start now - better to be on the safe side. Weaning and allergies
judith_wills
Fussy toddler
Is it normal for toddlers to stop eating different food, after having enjoyed it previously? And if it is, how long does it usually last? (I don't want a five-year-old who only eats fish fingers and kidney beans!). judith_wills
The main thing is to keep offering a range of foods, in very small amounts. If not taken, keep calm and try again a week or two later. Research shows that infants and children under two take up to ten 'tries' to like a food. Try adding vegetables to pureed soups, stews or mix them with meat in a sauce. It is true that children's preferences are mainly arrived at before school age so it is important to try to get some broad and healthy tastes going - you seem to be very committed to giving your child a good diet and that is most of the battle won. Most toddlers grow out of their food fad stage by the time they start school. Snacks for a 13-month-old
judith_wills
Keep trying with the apples and other fruit. Research shows that it takes up to ten tries to get an infant to like a new foods, so don't give up after one or two goes. If you take an insulated lunch box with you when going out, the choices are many - a pot of fruit fromage frais, little sandwiches, hard-boiled egg, breadsticks, good quality fruit cake, seedless satsumas plus all the things you've already mentioned. Just try to avoid highly-processed snack foods and drinks which can be high in salt and/or less healthy fats and/or sugar. Recipe ideas
judith_wills
From six to nine months is a good time to introduce a variety of new fruits (assuming he has already had pureed apples and pears) including peaches, melon and perhaps avocado. Also try a variety of cereals including wheat and oats (unless he is gluten-allergic) as well as baby rice. Pureed poultry and lean red meat can also be eaten, as can pulses such as red lentils. He can also have yogurt, little bits of hard cheese and hard-boiled egg. Just remember not to add salt and to puree his food to suit his age adding bigger lumps as the weeks go by. Diabetes and colitis in the family
He is 18 weeks and breastfed at the moment and I don't want to give him the wrong thing when I start to wean him judith_wills
Colitis is not my area of expertise and I think you should go to your GP for further advice and possible referral to the community dietician on this. |